Pip Brown likes to take her time. “I’ve never released anything I’m not proud of,” she said prior to the arrival of ‘Wild Things’, the third Ladyhawke album to emerge since the release of her eponymous debut in 2008.
Its follow up,‘Anxiety’, spoke of her life with Asperger syndrome and took her in a different musical direction, one which leaned towards guitar-based rock rather than synth-based pop. It was an approach that ultimately saw critics mourning the loss of her roots.
After that dalliance with rock, ‘Wild Things’ finds itself planted firmly back in the realms of synth-pop, with the tone reflecting the happiness of a settled, newly-married Brown. Nearly every song here is a bouncy three-minute cut with a catchy chorus and it takes no effort to enjoy the record first time around.
The opener, A Love Song, tells of the joy in finding love amid a peppy ‘80s-style pop nugget. But its glitzy exterior captures the essence of, and problems with, the album in its first three minutes. It’s sugary sweet, twee, instantly catchy and enjoyable - hard to dislike, even - but the repetitive chorus lacks depth.
The River is another upbeat effort, this time with slightly less reliance on its hook, but it too is flogged repeatedly. Hillside Avenue and Money To Burn follow a similar formula, with their choruses satisfying up to a point. But it’s a case of when, not if, they will begin to irritate.
Let It Roll fails to ignite at the heart of the album, as does Chills thanks to its over-reliance on its central lyric: “This is love, this is love, this is everything.” The euphoria Brown feels in her relationship is evident, but for those on the outside looking in, interest is likely to wane.
The bubbly synth balladry of the title track is far more appealing, offering something different while becoming the only song on the record to break four minutes. Wonderland provides the biggest highlight, though, with an irresistible chorus following on from rubbery verses.
‘Wild Things’ is like your favourite chocolate cream from a selection box. It’s an instant fix of delight with a soft centre, but it’s gone in no time at all and might leave you a little sick after over indulging. As sweet as it is, it is likely to have a very short shelf life.
Ladyhawke Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri June 10 2016 - BRISTOL Thekla
Sat June 11 2016 - NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Mon June 13 2016 - MANCHESTER Gorilla
Tue June 14 2016 - GLASGOW King Tuts
Thu June 16 2016 - LONDON Scala
Sat June 18 2016 - BRIGHTON Haunt
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